[Local-Maine-Schools] What to say to legislators?

[Paul Murphy]

How did you know I was cracking my knuckles? No easy feat with a cup of
coffee in my grip...

I think your points are all well made Brian. I would add to point number 5
that we are always interested in improving efficiency as we improve quality.
and to point number 8, where you say, "...as long as the local excellence of
our schools..."  I would add ".... and our ability to ensure that excellence
in the future..."

Just my $.02.

Paul
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Hubbell" <sparkflashgap at gmail.com>
To: "John March" <jpmarch at verizon.net>
Cc: "Local Maine Schools List" <local-maine-schools at lists.svaha.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2007 8:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Local-Maine-Schools] What to say to legislators?


> Okay, in case some of you really are cracking your knuckles this
> morning over your keyboards, but still undecided about what to say,
> here -- strictly from my own point of view -- are some possible
> suggestions.  Please reply with your own.
>
> 1) Here on MDI at least, the existing local town boards, in regional
> cooperation as a school union structure, work effectively.  The proof
> is that are schools, by any measure, are excellent.
>
> 2) As our schools are excellent, over many years, the existing
> relationships between school boards, teachers, administrators and
> taxpayers have created extraordinary collaborative trust.  This has
> real value.
>
> 3) No one better knows our schools than the people here who are
> presently committed to them.  For good reasons, we seriously doubt
> that our schools would be better or more responsibly cared for under
> any other administrative structure.
>
> 4) Therefore, we can not support any legislative directive that
> dissolves our current school administrative units and replaces it with
> a larger regional structure.
>
> 5) However, our primary interest is always in improving the quality of
> education in our schools. So, we can state that we will never be
> close-minded to ideas that might effect that goal.
>
> 6) In that spirit, we are open to any opportunities to explore
> self-directed collaborations among other similarly-minded communities
> statewide that might effectively improve education.
>
> 7) There is nothing to lose and likely much to gain from collaborative
> discussions with other similarly-minded schools across the state,
> independent of geographical proximity.
>
> 8) And, as long as the local excellence of our schools is not
> diminished, we would participate willingly in any larger cooperative
> organizations to realize cost-savings.
>
> 9) In this regard, the cost of health care in particular seems
> appropriate common ground.
>
> Okay.  There's an opening for discussion.  Have at it.
>
> --Brian
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